Tivoli

To the east of Rome you can visit Roman Emperor Hadrian’s magnificent villa and palaces built in the second century A.D. to see how the emperors lived. Stop for lunch and then head just up the hill to the Villa D’Este, built by Cardinal Ippolito D’Este in the 16th Century. With its beautiful gardens and breathtaking fountains where you can enjoy spectacular views out over the Roman countryside, it’s no surprise that it was a precursor to the palaces of Versailles. It is approximately 30 minutes outside of Rome, but a world away with its quaint country-side feel.